Fence construction



L. HODSON FENCE CONSTRUCTION Sept. 29, 1959 Filed April 19,]1957 2Sheets-Sheet 1 'Les/l'e Hudson INVEN TOR.

walki- BY 25m L. HODSON FENCE CONSTRUCTION Sept. 29, 1959 2 SheetsSheet2 Filed April 19, 1957 m m F H w m H .e U 5 e L m R m m M m V 1 m 3 Y Band United States Patent F FENCE CONSTRUCTION Leslie Hodson', Parkville,Md.

Application April 19, 1957, Serial No. 653,907 7 Claims. (Cl. 256-48) Afurther object of the invention is to provide a prac- H tical deviceofthis nature which is constructed of a plurality of different shapes ofparts that are adapted to be interlocked to form a chain of such parts.In this way parts of various shapes and/ or sizes may be intermingled toform designs or, if desired, chains may be constructed of parts'madewholly of one design, this being in accordance with the taste of theuser. 1

,A further object of the invention is to provide a home assemblablefence which has a novel post to fit with the chain constructed inaccordance with the parts and pieces supplied. The post may be of asimplified design involving a body with means to penetrate the soil ormay be a design capable of having. the base filled with sand or otherballast to be used in combination witha ground piercinglprong or usedwithout such a prong when a more readily movable fence is desired or tocare for situations where the fence will be used on a supporting surfacethat cannot easily be penetrated.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a fence constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of one type of post within thepurview of the invention;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of three of the linksin the chain of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary exploded sectional view showing the means ofinterlocking the confronting ends of one of the links in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modification of thefence in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing another typeof interlock for the confronting ends of one of the links in the fenceof Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified link;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of another link in the fence capable ofbeing assembled in a fence;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a still further link;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of another link;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a further link; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of still another link, these beingillustrated to show that the links may be constructed in a number ofshapes depending on the ornachain 38 to the post.

2,906,507 Patented Sept. 29, 1959 mental tastes and desires of themanufacturer and the buying public.

' In the accompanying drawings there is a fence 10 constructed inaccordance with the invention. This fence has two posts 12 and 14, eachof which may be made identical to each other (Fig. 2). The fence post 12is made of a generally pylon shaped hollow plastic body 16 havingtransverse rigidifying partitions 18 and 20 therein intermediate a cap22 and the'base 24 thereof. Base 24 is shown as being detachable, havingan annular threaded part 26 above collar 28. The threaded part isadapted to be fitted into a mating threaded part of the post so that thebottom wall 24 may be removed in order to fill the cavity 30 at thelower end of the post with sand or other ballast should this be founddesirable or necessary. There are means to pierce the soil to helpanchor the post 12. These means consist of an elongated prong 32depending from the lower surface of the bottom wall 24 of the post andhaving a pointed end 34. It is to be clearly understood that it iswithin the purview of the invention to construct post 12 in an alternatemanner that is, with the bottom wall 24 integrally joined with the sidewall of the post. Moreover the prong 32 may be omitted.

An eye 36 is at the top of cap 22 by which to attach Hooks 40 and 42 areadhered to the side wall of the post. These hooks open upwardly and areuseful in holding an intermediate strand of the fence in place on thepost. As shown in Fig. 6, hooks 40 and 42 may be on both sides of a postwhen the post is to be used as an intermediate post. Alternatively theymay be at right angles to each other as shown in Fig. 1.

End posts preferably have only one hook thereon as seen at 44 in Fig. 6.

Chain 38 is constructed of a plurality of rings or open frame-likebodies, such as rings 45, 46 and 47 (Figs. 4

and 5). These rings constitute the chain forming parts and each is .madeof a plastic ring that has a. slot. 48 with the confronting ends 50 and52 of the part 45 being spaced slightly from each other. In assembly thepart 45 is sprung open and parts 47 and 46 inserted in the loop thereof.Then the confronting ends 50 and 52 of the part 45 are brought togetherand fastened by clip 54. The outer surfaces of the confronting ends 50and 52 of part 45 have recesses 56 and 58 with slots or keyways 58 and60 at the ends thereof. Clip 54 has an outer surface which is arcuate tocomplete the circular formation of part 45 and is of a thickness to fitsnugly within the recesses 56 and 54. Keys 62 and 64 at the extremitiesof clip 54 snap into the keyways 58 and 60 and thereby lock part 45.Chain 38 is constructed of a large number of parts identical to parts45, 46 and 47, although it is within the prerogative of the user as tothe particular type and shape of parts with which he constructs hisfence.

Fence 70 of Fig. 6 is made of post 44 and a post 72. Chain 74 isattached to the eyes 75 and 76 of these posts and other posts (unshown).Chain 78 is attached to hooks 79 and 80 on posts 44 and 72 while anotherchain 82 is attached to hook 83 on the opposite side of post 72 andcontinues to the next adjacent post. The length of the fence 70 isindeterminate.

Chain 74 is constructed of parts 88 that are joined together by parts 90(Fig. 9) with part 92 at the extremity of each chain. Part 92 istoroidal with clip 93 holding the confronting ends assembled. Theholding function of clip 93 is the same as the holding function of clip54 and the actual construction thereof is similar. Part 88 is made offour rings 94, 95, 96 and 97 with rings 96 and 94 being spaced andprovided with clips to hold them assembled when uniting the parts 88with similar or different parts. In the form of part or chain 3 link ofFig. 11, as in all other forms, the clips are the same with theexception of the exterior shape which is slightly alterable inaccordance with the motif of the part with which it is associated.

Part 90 is in the shape of a diamond and has aslot 100 between theconfronting ends of sides 102'tand 104. Clip 106 is fitted in recesses109 and .110 (Fig. 7) and held in place by the keys 112and 114 which fitin keyways 116 and 118. At the ends of the recesses 109 and 110. Theouter edges of clip 106.conform to the shape of the sides 102 and 104with which they are connected.

Part 120 (Fig. 8) has clip 122, and it distinguishes from clip 90 onlyin that it is hexagonal in shape. Part or link 124, provided with clip126 is similar to part 120, the distinguishing feature being that it .isshaped in the form of a star. Part 130 is in the form of an oval and it,too, has clip 132 holding the confionting ends thereof together in suchmanner that a chain may be formed of a plurality of these links in themanner described previously.

It is understood that various modifications and changes may be madewithout departing from the invention. For example, many othershapes'ofparts may be an'ived at and packaged in kits for retail sale.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a fence construction, a chain adapted to be strung and supportedin an elevated position, said chain comprising a plurality ofinterconnected links, each link constructed of a resilient materialhaving an open framelike body with its ends aligned, but in spacedrelation, means connected to said ends on the exterior surfaces onlythereof and substantially flush with said exterior surfaces, said meansthereby closing the opening defined by said spaced ends.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said connecting means compriseslongitudinally extending recesses in the outer surfaces of said linksadjacent each of said ends, transversely extending keyways in saidrecesses, snap clips receivable in said recess and having keys on theends thereof engageable with said keyways.

3. A fence construction comprising a plurality of support posts eachhaving a base and a conical shaped vertical member secured thereto, amounting eye atop said vertical member integral therewith, said basebeing removably secured to said vertical member, a chain having linksengageable with said eye and comprising a plurality of interconnectedlinks, each link constructed of a resilient material having an openframe-like body with its ends aligned but in spaced relation, meansconnected to said ends on the exterior surfaces only thereof andsubstantially flush with said exterior surfaces, said means therebyclosing the opening defined by said spaced ends.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said connecting means compriseslongitudinally extending recesses in the outer surfaces of said linksadjacent each of said ends, transversely extending keyways in saidrecesses, snap clips receivable in said recess and having keys on theends thereof engageable with said keyways.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said vertical member is hollowand is provided with transverse rigidifying partitions disposed withinand intermediate the top and bottom thereof.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the lower portion of saidvertical member constitutes a closure being closed by said removablebase, said closure receivable of a form of ballast to weight the bottomof said vertical member, thereby providing a more stable support forsaid chain.

7. The combination of claim 6, whereinsaidbase has an elongated prongdepending from the lower surface thereof, said prong having a pointedlower end for engagement with the surface supporting said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS540,192 Rosback May 28, 1895 684,734 Wegner Oct. 15, 1901 691,433 BakerIan. 21, 1902 1,164,909 Auberlin Dec. 21, 1915 2,103,410 Frei Dec. 28,1937 2,384,338 Rasso Sept. 4, 1945 2,550,038 Brown Apr. 24, 1951

